Today’s walk begins in Gosport beside the ferry terminal.
In contrast to the last time I was here, it’s a lovely sunny day and I can see clearly across the harbour to Portsmouth!
A ‘toy’…
The entrance to Portsmouth Harbour…
I set off past the Haslar Marina, which is quite big!
Embedded in the pavement are a lot of stones bearing peoples’ names. I presume there is an explanatory info board or plaque or something somewhere, but I must have missed it so I can’t say who they are…
I pass over a small footbridge…
…then the path comes out onto a road that crosses a bridge to the Haslar Peninsula.
A lot of the Haslar Peninsula seems to be owned by the MOD, so public access is limited. It is home to a submarine museum, so you can go in that bit!
I continue along the road between the high brick walls…
After about fifteen minutes I see a signpost pointing towards the sea…!
I walk through a car park and emerge onto a pebble beach. However, it is immediately apparent that I’m not going any further on this beach…
Beyond this fence is Fort Monckton, an 18th Century fort that today is used as a training centre by M.I.6 - hence the barbed wire!
I turn around and re-cross the car park back to the road. Fortunately, just five minutes further on is a path that leads across a golf course to Gilkicker Point.
Gilkicker Point lies at the southern tip of the Gosport peninsula, and according to the map the rest of today’s walk should be beside the sea!
The path takes me down to the beach where there are great views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight…
There is yet another old fort here, this time dating back to the 19th Century. It is also closed to the public, but for rather more mundane reasons - it is being converted into flats and is currently a building site!
So I set off along the pebbly beach - my favourite surface to walk on, not heavy going at all. Luckily, after a short ten minute plod I reach the start of a proper prom…
This is much better…
I stroll along the prom right round Stokes Bay. At the northern end of the bay is a diving museum with a few bits of diving equipment on view behind the fence…
I am now at Browndown beach, which is another military firing range. It doesn’t appear to be used much these days, and there is no red flag flying so it seems safe enough! I pass the fence and head along the beach - more pebbles…
No idea what this is…
Less than half an hour later I reach the other end…
Once out of the firing range the prom begins again…
I am now walking along the sea front of Lee-on-the-Solent, which is very pleasant but a bit featureless. In the distance is Solent Airport, hidden by buildings and trees but I see several light aircraft taking off and landing.
A couple of miles later I reach Hill Head. The coast path veers inland here as some properties back on to the beach. It looks like it might be possible to walk along the beach though…
Yes! You can…
Past the houses, it is just a short walk along the prom to Hillhead Harbour where the river Meon enters the sea. So this is where I am finishing for today. Next time - up Southampton Water!
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